WHO awards Maldives certificate for eliminating Rubella

The World Health Organization (WHO) has awarded the Maldives with the certificate for eliminating Rubella.

The certificate was awarded in the 73rd regional meeting of the WHO currently underway. 

Health Protection Agency (HPA) stated that the Maldives achieved its target of eliminating Rubella and Measles three years ahead and that the country was one of the three in the region to have eliminated the disease. 

WHO has previously stated that the Maldives and Sri Lanka were the first to achieve the set targets for eliminating Rubella and Measles by 2023.

Rubella is a contagious viral infection. It easily identifiable due to the distinctive red rashes it causes. It is also called German measles or three-day measles. 

The disease can cause mild symptoms or even no symptoms in most people however, it can cause serious problems for unborn babies whose mothers become infected during pregnancy.